Spicy Edamame (Soy Beans)

Yup, it's been a while between posts, but thanks to BB's request for this recipe....I'm back.  If I have to think about it....may as well write it down for the rest of the world too!

Actually there is a huge backlog of stuff to post but life has been busy and I refuse to be a slave to my blog.

I'm the sort of cook who never uses a recipe, so when asked, "what's your recipe for...." I have to stop and really think about measurements and all the quirky little steps that go along with food prep.....no point putting stuff out there that's going to be crap and not work when you go to make it...right?  

These Spicy Edamame are always a hit around here.  I know the debate over health benefits of soy continues....whatever. We like them and hey....they gotta be better for you than the gigantic bag of Costco potato chips! 

Say what you will about the debate over the health benefits of soy: any way you slice it, the edamame is a star legume! Just 1/2 cup of them a day really punches up the fiber, protein and vitamin/mineral content of your diet.

Here's what you'll find in a half-cup serving of shelled edamame (or 1 1/8 cup edamame in the pods):

• 120 calories
• 9 grams fiber
• 2.5 grams fat
• 1.5 grams polyunsaturated fat (0.3 grams plant omega-3 fatty acids)
• 0.5 gram monounsaturated fat
• 11 grams protein
• 13 grams carbohydrate
• 15 mg sodium
• 10% of the Daily Value for vitamin C
• 10% Daily Value for iron
• 8% Daily Value for vitamin A
• 4% Daily Value for calcium

This version of Edamame is very tasty and are much more interesting than what you normally get served at Japanese restaurants. (simply steamed/boiled and dressed with sea salt)

Ingredients

1lb frozen Soy Beans

4-5 Star Anise

1 Tbsp Chili Oil - adjust to suit (read about my favorite brand here) 

1 tsp soy sauce

1 tsp Oyster Sauce (optional, but adds a nice umami-ness!)

White Pepper

Water

1tsp salt

Method

Bring a medium sized pot of water to boil, add salt and star anise and simmer for 5 minutes to flavor the water.  Add the frozen soy beans.  Do not cover (apparently this makes the beans turn gray), continue to boil for 5 minutes.  Drain.

I use a pot with a strainer insert so the draining part is a snap.

Toss cooked soy beans with remaining ingredients and serve either warm or room temperature.

Be sure to let your guests know that they are not supposed to eat the pod..... (the outer skin...it won't kill them, but is almost impossible to chew through!)

Suck the yummy spicy stuff off the pod, pop out the little tender beans that are hiding under the tough skin. 

What I normally do is eat a couple when I am putting them out, discard the bean pods into the discard bowl and hope the folks get with the program if they are edamame virgins.  Otherwise they will just go away thinking that I served them some really old tough beans.....

Thanks for the inspiration BB....let me know how it works out for you.